Richard I of England
The third son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, he was Duke of Aquitaine from 1172 and King of England from 1189 to 1199. He led the Third Crusade alongside Philip Augustus, defeated Saladin at Arsuf in 1191 and negotiated access to Jerusalem for pilgrims. Captured on his return by Leopold V of Austria, he was handed over to Emperor Henry VI and held until an enormous ransom was paid in 1194. He spent his final years defending Normandy against France and died at the siege of Châlus.
Life of Richard I of England
A prince of Aquitaine
Born in Oxford in 1157, the third son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard grew up closely connected to his mother’s duchy. He was invested as duke at Poitiers and Limoges in 1172. The following year he joined his brothers’ great rebellion against their father. After their reconciliation, he spent a decade subduing the Aquitanian barons. The death of Henry the Young King in 1183 made him the heir, and his distrust of Henry II led him to ally with Philip Augustus. His father died defeated at Chinon in 1189.
References: Britannica · Richard I, king of England · Westminster Abbey · Richard I
The Third Crusade
Crowned at Westminster in September 1189, Richard sold offices and lands to finance the crusade. He wintered in Sicily, where he secured the release of his sister Joan, conquered Cyprus in 1191 and married Berengaria of Navarre there. After the fall of Acre, which Philip Augustus left to return to France, he defeated Saladin at Arsuf. He did not attempt to capture Jerusalem. In 1192 he negotiated a truce at Jaffa that left the coast to the crusaders and opened the city to pilgrims.
References: Britannica · Richard I, king of England · Westminster Abbey · Richard I
Captivity and ransom
On his return, a shipwreck forced him to travel through imperial territory. In December 1192 he was captured near Vienna by Leopold V of Austria, whom he had humiliated at Acre, and handed over to Emperor Henry VI. The demanded ransom of 150,000 marks was raised through extraordinary taxes across his domains. Released in February 1194, he suppressed the rebellion of his brother John, whom he pardoned, and took part in another crown-wearing ceremony at Winchester.
References: Britannica · Richard I, king of England · Westminster Abbey · Richard I
Defending Normandy
His final five years were spent in continuous warfare against Philip Augustus, who had occupied part of Normandy during his captivity. Richard built Château Gaillard in 1196–1198 to defend the Seine valley and won a victory near Gisors in 1198. He died on 6 April 1199 from a crossbow wound received at the siege of Châlus in the Limousin. He was buried at Fontevraud beside his father. John Lackland inherited domains, much of which he would lose in 1204.
References: Britannica · Richard I, king of England · Westminster Abbey · Richard I
This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.
Key details
Birth: 1157 Pending review
Death: 1199 Pending review
Role: King of England · Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine · Count of Anjou
Other recorded names: Richard the Lionheart · Richard Cœur de Lion
Dynasty: Plantagenet · ES
Territories: England (ES) · Normandy (ES) · Aquitaine (ES) · Anjou (ES) · Maine (ES)
Recorded relationships
Their titles over time
Follow the changing territories and offices of Richard I of England. Each title retains its own status.
Governments in 1189
- AquitaineDuke
View titles and jurisdictions
- Aquitaine · ESDuke · Co-ruler1172–1199 · Invested as duke at Limoges in 1172; he governed the duchy alongside his mother, Duchess Eleanor.
- EnglandKing
View titles and jurisdictions
- England · ESKing · Effective rule1189–1199 · He spent less than a year in England: the Third Crusade (1190–1192), his captivity in Germany (1192–1194) and war against Philip Augustus kept him on the continent.
- NormandyDuke
View titles and jurisdictions
- Normandy · ESDuke · Effective rule1189–1199
- AnjouCount
View titles and jurisdictions
- Anjou · ESCount · Effective rule1189–1199
- MaineCount
View titles and jurisdictions
- Maine · ESCount · Effective rule1189–1199
Annual dates: overlap within one year does not prove that two offices were held on the same day. Regencies and co-rulerships retain their labels.
Evidence for this profile
10 recorded claims · 10 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.
Dates (0/2 with a precise source)
- BirthPending review
1157
A precise source has not yet been added. - DeathPending review
1199
A precise source has not yet been added.
Family and relationships (0/3 with a precise source)
- FatherPending review
Henry II of England
A precise source has not yet been added. - MotherPending review
Eleanor of Aquitaine
A precise source has not yet been added. - Marriage or partnershipPending review
Berengaria of Navarre
A precise source has not yet been added.
Governments (0/5 with a precise source)
- GovernmentPending review
Duke · Aquitaine · 1172–1199
A precise source has not yet been added. - GovernmentPending review
King · England · 1189–1199
A precise source has not yet been added. - GovernmentPending review
Duke · Normandy · 1189–1199
A precise source has not yet been added. - GovernmentPending review
Count · Anjou · 1189–1199
A precise source has not yet been added. - GovernmentPending review
Count · Maine · 1189–1199
A precise source has not yet been added.
Editorial history
- 2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
- 2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
More paths from Richard I of England
Family
Henry II of EnglandKing of England · Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine · Count of Anjou1133 – 1189
Eleanor of AquitaineDuchess of Aquitaine · Queen consort of France and England1122 – 1204Berengaria of Navarre · ESQueen consort of Englandc. 1165 – 1230Same dynasty
Joan of England · ESQueen consort of Sicily · Countess consort of Toulouse1165 – 1199Matilda of England · ESConsort1156 – 1189Geoffrey II of Brittany · ESDuke of Brittany1158 – 1186Henry the Young King · ESJunior king of England1155 – 1183Eleanor of England · ESConsort1161 – 1214
John, King of England · ESKing1166 – 1216In their lifetime
John, King of England · ESKing1166 – 1216Empress Matilda · ESEmpress · Lady of the English1102 – 1167Henry the Young King · ESJunior king of England1155 – 1183William Marshal · ESEarl / Regentc. 1147 – 1219Isabella of Angoulême · ESConsort / Countess1186 – 1246Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester · ESCount1180 – 1230